Alert issued, polio virus resurfaces in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Polio virus was spotted in a testing sample collected from a drain in Amberpet in Hyderabad, Telangana. “The country has eradicated the wild polio virus and the last case was seen on 13th January, 2011, and it is more than five years that no wild polio virus has been detected,” the statement said, adding that reports saying the polio virus (P2 strain) has resurfaced in the country are not true.

Vaccine derived polioviruses are rare strain of the polioviruses that have genetically mutated from the strain contained in the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV). Insisting that its transmission is unlikely, the statement added that a special immunization drive is being held in the concerned area as a precautionary measure. About 3,50,000 children – aged six weeks to three years – will be vaccinated in Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts in the weeklong campaign, which will start on Monday.